Logo
Donate
Logo
Donate

Chicago's Schools Are 'Pretty Good,' But That's Not Good Enough

Sep 19, 2017 12:00:00 AM

by Natalie Neris

I have spent the last 15 years of my life committed to serving students across Chicago as a teacher and a leader. But today, I am writing as the mother of two beautiful daughters—two girls who are depending on me to advocate for their future, just as your children depend on you. Recently, I spent some time reflecting on my experience as a student in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and I realized I won the lottery. I won the lottery because I was accepted into Lane Tech High School, one of two selective enrollment high schools in Chicago, during the mid-90’s. I was the only one in my school, the only one on my block and the only one of my friends to be accepted. Coming from Humboldt Park (before gentrification), and having the good fortune of attending Lane meant that I would have a fighting chance. [pullquote position="right"]It meant I would have access my peers didn’t have.[/pullquote] It meant, quite honestly, I could have the chance to experience life outside of the confines of my own gang-infested community. Before being accepted to Lane, I remember being more concerned about who I would have to fight to survive in the neighborhood high school rather than where the education I received would take me. That was my reality.

'Pretty Good' Isn't Good Enough

So, I won the lottery. A quality education is a game changer. It’s a civil right, a difference maker, and it really does change trajectories. I am an example of that. But what about everyone else? Every student deserves to have access to a game-changing education that prepares them to be successful in college and in life. And if charter schools didn’t exist, thousands of families in this city would be left with just “pretty good” choices. As parents, we know that education is the most critical lever to ensure that our children have the best chance at success. When we talk about charter school advocacy, for me, it’s not about charters being better than neighborhood schools or neighborhood schools being better than charters. It’s about giving parents options. It’s about taking a stand and saying “pretty good” isn’t good enough. Yet we have so much farther to go. There are bills being voted on up in Springfield that would stop any new charter schools from opening in Chicago. These bills that would deny opportunity to thousands of children. Today, there’s no cavalry riding in to help and it’s on us to make positive change. So the question I have for everyone is this: What will you do to fight for your children and your communities? What can we do together to make sure that the next generation of Chicago children gets the education they deserve?
An original version of this post appeared on the Charters For Change blog as What Will You Do To Fight For Your Children And Your Communities?.

Natalie Neris

Natalie Neris leverages her work in education to advocate for social justice and equitable access for students in underserved communities. The first in her family to graduate from college, Natalie began her career with Chicago Public Schools in her own Humboldt Park community. While in the classroom Natalie earned a Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching and became a nationally board-certified teacher. A part of Chicago’s educational ecosystem as a student, teacher, administrator and parent, Natalie is keenly aware that access to a quality education is a game-changer, especially for students living in the most impoverished urban communities. In her current role as chief of academic accountability for Chicago International Charter School, Natalie drove the design and implementation of CICS’s structure for academic accountability, which was firmly grounded in her core belief that teachers and school leaders are our most critical lever for improving outcomes for students. Natalie earned her undergraduate degree from Northeastern Illinois University and her graduate degree from Concordia University and is currently pursuing her doctorate at National Louis University. In addition to her work at CICS, Natalie serves as co-chair of the Educator Advisory Council for Advance Illinois and is a 2017 Surge Fellow. Natalie is a mother, a meditator, a lover of words, travel, food, connection and a fighter for the underdog.

Leave a Comment

The Feed

Explainers

all explainers

  • EXPLAINED: What Are Standardized Tests and Why Do We Need Them?

    Ed Post Staff

    EXPLAINED: What Are Standardized Tests and Why Do We Need Them? Few issues in education spark more tension and debate than standardized testing. Are they a tool for equity or a burden on students? A...

  • Explained: What Is the Federal Charter Schools Program?

    Ed Post Staff

    Charter schools are public schools with a purpose. Operating independently from traditional school districts, they're tuition-free, open to all students, and publicly funded—but with more flexibility...

  • A Leaky Educator Pipeline Loses Teachers of Color

    Ed Post Staff

    Despite the benefits of a diverse teaching force, prospective teachers of color fall out of our leaky preparation pipeline at every stage: preparation, hiring, induction, and retention. Here’s what...

Ed Post is the flagship website platform of brightbeam, a 501(c3) network of education activists and influencers demanding a better education and a brighter future for every child.

© 2020-2025 brightbeam. All rights reserved.